Two years later.
The training field at the Ninja Academy.
Another sparring match was underway.
A thunderous explosion rocked the field, sending up a thick cloud of smoke at its center.
Yuuki darted and weaved through the haze, repeatedly using the Body Flicker Technique to evade the attacks that came at him from every direction.
His pupils flickered, sharply observing every movement around him.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.
Even though the thick smoke blocked his view, his keen senses picked up on the rapid rise in temperature ahead.
Without hesitation, Yuuki flickered away from his spot.
A blast of flame shot through the smoke, the heatwave it carried scattering the haze as it tore toward where Yuuki had just been.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
A barrage of fireballs followed, tearing through the last of the smoke and revealing the scene to the watching class.
"Yuuki, it's been two years. Is dodging still all you can do?"
Yuichi Uchiha's voice rang out from within the smoke.
Yuuki kept moving, dodging each fireball with practiced ease.
A small smile tugged at his lips. He ignored Yuichi's taunts and focused on the battlefield, waiting for an opening to strike.
As the last fireball passed, Yuuki came to a stop.
A sudden puff of smoke erupted behind him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Yuuki saw what had happened.
A small, ordinary-looking stone had transformed into Yuichi Uchiha, kunai raised, lunging for Yuuki's back.
Before Yuuki could react, another change occurred.
The smoke in front of him parted as the real Yuichi burst through, closing the distance at speed.
The double attack made it look like Yuuki was in serious danger.
"Impressive."
The students watching from the sidelines gasped, genuinely worried for Yuuki's safety.
Mizukawa Katsumi tensed, chakra surging through his body as he prepared to intervene.
But to Yuuki, the situation was far from desperate.
Calmly, he stood his ground, watching both Yuichis approach as if they moved in slow motion.
His experience and control had grown immensely in the past two years. This wasn't enough to make him panic.
He swung his kunai behind him, precisely blocking the blade aimed at his back.
At the same time, he clearly tracked the real Yuichi's movements.
His free hand shot forward, grabbing Yuichi's arm in one swift motion.
With a puff of white smoke, the Yuichi in front of him vanished.
As Yuuki had expected, it was just a clone with no power behind it.
That left the Yuichi behind him.
But as Yuuki turned to deal with him, this Yuichi grinned and also burst into smoke.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A fireball surged toward him from within the fading smoke.
By the time Yuuki saw it, the fireball was already almost on top of him.
The heat singed his eyebrows, the brightness forcing his eyes half shut.
Yuichi's plan was about to succeed. There was no time for Yuuki to use the Body Flicker to escape.
So Yuuki simply shook his head and gave up the struggle.
In an instant, his form dissolved into a puff of white smoke.
Both Yuichi and Mizukawa froze.
Mizukawa relaxed, letting his chakra settle as he realized how the match had turned out.
Yuichi stared in shock.
The Yuuki he had worked so hard to corner had been a shadow clone all along.
In that instant of confusion, a change occurred behind him.
A stone on the ground turned into Yuuki, hidden in plain sight.
Yuichi's eyes widened. He spun around, trying to block the incoming attack.
But Yuichi didn't have Yuuki's reaction speed.
By the time he realized what had happened, it was over.
Yuuki's kunai was already at his throat.
"Looks like you lost again."
Yuuki smiled as he declared his victory.
Yuichi scowled.
"I get it, you won again. But that's only because I didn't know you had learned the Shadow Clone Technique. Next time I'll beat you for sure."
Yuuki lowered his kunai without waiting for Mizukawa to announce the result.
"And when we started, I didn't know you had learned Shadow Clone either."
Yuuki's words left Yuichi without a comeback.
"Whatever, next time I'll win and restore the Uchiha clan's honor."
Yuichi turned away, muttering about his pride as an Uchiha.
Yuuki chuckled.
"Is being a tsundere some kind of Uchiha family trait along with the Sharingan?"
Back in line, Minato spoke up.
"Yuuki, when did you learn the Shadow Clone Technique?"
"A while ago. I just never used it in sparring before."
"Really?"
Minato hesitated, looking like he had something else on his mind.
Yuuki noticed and tilted his head.
"What is it?"
Minato frowned.
"I'll tell you after school."
Then his expression shifted, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"By the way, how are things between you and Shiina Kō?"
"Huh?"
Yuuki waved his hands in protest.
"Don't talk nonsense. There's nothing between me and Shiina Kō."
After saying that, he quickly glanced at the girl standing across the room.
/////////////////////////
Support me by adding this fic into your library!
<300 Powerstone = 1Chapter>